Veteran Medic Corpsmen Physician Assistant Demonstration Program Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a program to examine methods of enabling individuals with military medical or health professional work experience to build on such skills by entering into the physician assistant workforce. Outlines study requirements. Requires: (1) the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education with accredited physician assistant programs to carry out demonstration projects under the program; and (2) such institutions to give priority to individuals who serve or have served in the Armed Forces as a paramedic or other similar medical support position.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6339 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6339
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to
assist military medics and corpsmen in making transitions to civilian
physician assistant jobs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2010
Ms. Herseth Sandlin (for herself and Mr. Boozman) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a program to
assist military medics and corpsmen in making transitions to civilian
physician assistant jobs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Medic Corpsmen Physician
Assistant Demonstration Program Act of 2010''.
SEC. 2. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT MILITARY PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations
provided for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
collaboration with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Defense,
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall establish a
program in accordance with this section to examine methods of enabling
eligible individuals to build on medical skills gained through military
jobs by entering into the physician assistant workforce to meet the
demand for physician assistants.
(b) Study.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall
conduct a study that includes examination of the following:
(1) Whether the demonstration projects carried out under
subsection (c) are effective in improving the ability of
eligible individuals to become licensed physician assistants,
and what modifications to the demonstration projects are
necessary to meet that goal.
(2) Ways of bringing the demonstration projects carried out
under subsection (c) to the attention of eligible individuals,
including through information provided to eligible individuals
by--
(A) the Department of Defense transition program
known as the Transition Assistance Program, carried out
under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code; and
(B) the Department of Labor veterans transition
program carried out under chapter 41 of title 38,
United States Code.
(3) Whether eligible individuals participating in a
demonstration project carried out under subsection (c) are
receiving the educational support services they need in order
to complete their physician assistant education and obtain
certification, and what further steps the Secretary should take
in order to ensure that those eligible individuals have access
to such support services.
(4) Whether the program established under this section
could serve as a model for new programs to assist eligible
individuals in obtaining certification in other health care
fields.
(c) Grants for Demonstration Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out
demonstration programs in accordance with this subsection.
(2) Use of funds.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a
grant under this subsection shall use funds from such
grant to establish a demonstration program that enables
eligible individuals to receive academic credit from an
accredited physician assistant program based on the
military credentials and medical skills experience of
the eligible individual.
(B) Priority admission.--In admitting eligible
individuals into a demonstration program carried out
with funds received under this subsection, an eligible
entity shall give priority to eligible individuals who
serve or have served as a paramedic or other similar
medical support position in the Armed Forces.
(C) Examination eligibility requirement.--An
eligible entity shall ensure that an eligible
individual participating in a demonstration program
carried out with funds received under this section is
eligible to take the Physician Assistant National
Certifying Exam administered by the National Commission
on Certification of Physician Assistants upon
completion of the program.
(3) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, including--
(A) information demonstrating--
(i) the capability of the eligible entity
to work with eligible individuals;
(ii) a history of effective collaboration
between the eligible entity and--
(I) health care employers; and
(II) State medical licensing
boards, as appropriate; and
(B) an assurance that the eligible entity will
participate in any evaluations by the Secretary of the
demonstration program carried out with funds received
under this subsection, including participating in
reporting as required by the Secretary.
(4) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall establish
selection criteria for eligible entities consistent with this
subsection, and shall ensure that the criteria give priority to
eligible entities showing the ability to sustain a
demonstration program developed under this subsection after the
expiration of the grant period.
(d) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical
assistance to eligible entities receiving grants under this subsection.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and
Federal agencies a report on the findings and outcomes of the
program carried out under this section.
(2) Contents.--The Secretary shall include in each report
submitted under this subsection--
(A) the results of the study conducted under
subsection (b); and
(B) information pertaining to each eligible entity
receiving a grant under subsection (c) regarding the
number of eligible individuals referred to, accepted
into, and graduating from, the demonstration program
carried out by the eligible entity.
(3) Distribution.--The Secretary shall distribute a report
submitted under this subsection to veterans' service
organizations and State medical licencing boards.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual''
means an individual with medical or health professional
experience gained while serving in the Armed Forces who--
(A) has received a certificate, associate degree,
baccalaureate degree, master's degree, or post-
baccalaureate training in a science relating to health
care;
(B) has participated in the delivery of health care
services or related medical services, including
participation in military training relating to the
identification, evaluation, treatment, and prevention
of disease and disorders; and
(C) does not have--
(i) a degree of doctor of medicine;
(ii) a degree of doctor of osteopathy; or
(iii) a degree of doctor of dentistry.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an
institution of higher education with a physician assistant
program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review
Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2016.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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